Sweden drops plans for closing bridge from Denmark in emergency - Telegraph Sweden drops plans for closing bridge from Denmark in emergency Plans to tighten control of Oresund bridge, which links Copenhagen with Sweden's third largest city Malmo The Oresund bridge is pictured from Lernacken on the Swedish side of the Oresund strait Photo: REUTERS By Reuters 11:22PM GMT 08 Dec 2015 Sweden's government has dropped a plan to tighten control over the influx of migrants by halting road traffic on a main bridge from Denmark in an emergency after a top legal watchdog and the opposition objected, the interior minister said on Tuesday. The minority centre-left government said in November it would widen ID checks to include all public transport to Sweden and tighten asylum rules in a bid to reduce the number of asylum seekers. Last week it said the plans included a proposal to make it possible for the government to halt road - but not railway - traffic to Sweden on security grounds in an emergency, including on the Oresund bridge to Denmark. The Oresund bridge, linking Denmark's capital Copenhagen with Sweden's third largest city Malmo, is extensively used by commuters as well as for freight traffic.

Around 20,000 motor vehicles cross it every day. But on Monday, the Swedish Council on Legislation, the top legal watchdog, said the plans to tighten the borders resembled martial law and would violate refugees' right to seek asylum in Sweden. The closed Oresund bridge, which links southern Sweden to Denmark, near Malmo, Sweden Photo: EPA Anders Ygeman, the interior minister, told state broadcaster SVT on Tuesday that the government would not push the proposals through parliament with support from the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats only and that it would now focus on widening ID checks where it has broader backing. "We have had a discussion both in the government and with the opposition after the council's criticism, and we make the overall assessment that we back down from the authorisation about the bridge and proceed with the part about ID checks," Mr Ygeman said. The Oresund Bridge | Welcome to the Øresund Bridge Welcome to the Øresund Bridge Welcome to the Øresund Bridge The Øresund Bridge is an approximately 16 km long road and rail link between Sweden and Denmark. But it is much more than that. The Øresund Bridge has created a region with a population of 3.7 million inhabitants.

From vision to reality The concept of a fixed link across Øresund is not new. For centuries, Øresund presented an obstacle to the transport of passengers and freight between Sweden and Denmark. Moreover, it also represented a psychological barrier simply because the mere thought of a difficult journey hampered trade and closer relations. With the rise of industrialisation and internationalisation in Europe, the idea of a fixed link became more plausible. From the beginning of the 20th century, several proposals were put forward, although a lack of financing and political support meant that the proposals never got past the drawing board. Stable political and economic environments in both Sweden and Denmark towards the end of the 20th century, however, laid a new foundation for the project. From vision to reality Stronger ties towards Europe also created a need to bring Scandinavia closer to the European continent. The decision to build the bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö rather than Elsinore and Helsingborg was based on the wish to bring the two main cities of the Øresund Region closer together. Strategically, the position of the bridge near Copenhagen Airport also played a role.

Øresundsbro Konsortiet Øresundsbro Konsortiet is owned jointly by the Danish and Swedish states. As an independent owner and operator, the Øresund Bridge is responsible for providing a fast, safe and convenient journey across Øresund at competitive prices for both private and corporate customers. Øresundsbro Konsortiet's parent companies are the Danish A/S Øresund and the Swedish Svensk-Danska Broförbindelsen, SVEDAB AB. The two companies have built and financed the hinterland infrastructure in Denmark and Sweden. In accordance with an agreement between the two countries, Øresundsbro Konsortiet is entitled to levy charges from users of the link across Øresund. Revenue must cover operating and interest expenses and finance the repayment of the loans raised for the construction of the coast-to-coast link and the landworks on both sides of Øresund. Committed and well qualified employees are crucial for the Øresund Bridge’s success. The fact that the Øresund Bridge organisation is an integrated DanishSwedish enterprise where Swedes and Danes use both languages as their working language is a significant advantage in respect of contact with customers and for understanding the region’s integration process.

The link The Øresund Bridge is an approximately 16 km long road and rail link between Sweden and Denmark. It consists of three sections: a bridge, an artificial island and a tunnel. The bridge accounts for half the length of the link (approx. 8 km) with the two 204 m high pylons supporting the 490 m long bridge span across the Flinte channel. This design is known as a cable-stayed bridge. On the bridge, the railway and motorway run on separate levels with the railway on the lower deck and vehicle traffic on the upper deck. Most of the bridge structures – the bridge piers and bridge spans – were built on land and subsequently towed out to the bridge alignment by a large floating crane. Only the pylons were cast in situ. Linking the bridge and tunnel, the man-made island of Peberholm, where the railway and motorway run The link parallel to each other, is neighbour to the natural island of Saltholm further to the north. 4 km long, Peberholm was constructed from the material dredged from the Øresund seabed to accommodate the bridge piers and the tunnel.

Peberholm was built to enable traffic to pass between the bridge, where rail and vehicle traffic run on two levels, to the tunnel where traffic runs on the same level. The 4 km immersed tunnel was built by concrete elements cast on land and subsequently towed out and lowered into a trench dredged in the Øresund sea bed. Peberholm The artificial island of Peberholm does not merely connect the bridge and tunnel. Because its flora and fauna have been allowed to develop freely, undisturbed by man, the island has become a haven for biologists from Denmark and Sweden. Since Peberholm’s construction, Lund's Botanical Association has identified more than 500 different species of plant. Although birch, sallow, oak, beech and willow are all found on the island, the strong winds have restricted their growth. Copenhagen’s Zoological Museum has collected beetles and butterflies on the island. Peberholm serves as a popular breeding ground for birds as well as providing a habitat for the rare green toad. The island is also home to rare spiders and insects. Safety and traffic The Øresund Bridge has generated a significant increase in traffic across Øresund.

Today, crossing the bridge by car is a matter of 10 minutes. Vehicles pay toll charges at the toll station at Lernacken on the Swedish side. The railway is an important part of the Øresund Bridge. Around two-thirds of those travelling across the Øresund Bridge go by train, with the journey between Malmö and Copenhagen taking 35 minutes. Two traffic controllers are permanently on duty at the traffic centre next to the toll station at Lernacken. By way of CCTV cameras and automatic alarm systems, the controllers continually monitor traffic and are prepared for any emergency. The speed limit on the motorway is usually 90 km per hour in the tunnel and 110 km per hour elsewhere on the link. In the event of an emergency, assistance can be summoned through the emergency telephones located along the link. The tunnel is equipped with emergency exits as well as alarm cabinets at intervals of 88 metres, which contain emergency telephones, fire extinguishers and fire alarms. The Øresund Bridge and the region Linking Scania and Zealand, the Øresund Bridge has created a region with a population of 3.7 million inhabitants.

Thanks to the fixed link, it is now easier than ever to live on the one side of Øresund and work on the other. As a result, commuting by car and train has increased dramatically since the bridge was opened, inspiring many Danes to move to Scania. Cultural events, entertainment, shopping, sport and outdoor activities are world class – all within a 100 km radius of Copenhagen/Malmö. Universities and other educational institutions work together through the Øresund University which offers students a wide range of opportunities as well as a stimulating research and development environment. The Øresund University ranks among the largest in Europe. Business and industry benefit from Northern Europe’s strongest home market and Copenhagen/Malmö has become the Nordic centre for a large number of international companies. The Øresund Region’s international marketing adds greater strength to many businesses’ export sales as well as attracting new business and jobs to the region. Welcome to the Øresund Bridge and the Øresund Region! Historic milestones March 23, 1991: Sweden and Denmark sign an agreement to build a fixed link across Øresund.

September 16, 1993: Work begins on the Danish landworks which comprise 9 km motorway and 18 km railway. August 1995: Work on the coast-coast link begins with dredging operations in Øresund. April 1, 1997: The first of the two foundations for the high bridge pylons are towed from Malmö to the bridge alignment and lowered into a 17 m deep trench excavated in the sea bed. August 8, 1997: The first of the 20 tunnel elements are towed from the factory at Copenhagen’s North Harbour to Drogden where they are lowered into the dredged tunnel trench. March 16, 1999: The tunnel is completed and the first vehicle drives through it. August 14, 1999: As the final bridge section is placed in position, the link between Denmark and Sweden becomes a reality. December 1, 1999: The final section of the railway between Copenhagen and Malmö is placed in position. June 9 – 12, 2000: The Øresund Bridge opens to the public.

Hundreds of thousands of people cycle, run or walk across the link during the special “Open Bridge” days. July 1, 2000: Inauguration of the Øresund Bridge December 31, 2004 :For the first time, the Øresund Bridge’s annual accounts show a fall in the interest-bearing net liabilities of almost DKK 20 billion. July 1, 2005: The Øresund Bridge celebrates its fifth anniversary. Traffic has increased by 74 per cent since the inauguration. January 11, 2009: Danish train operator, DSB First, takes over the running of the Øresund trains across the Øresund Bridge. The line was previously operated by the Danish DSB and the Swedish SJ. July 1, 2010: The Øresund Bridge celebrates its tenth anniversary. Øresundsbron - Bridge in Malmo 4sq SUs Sweden May 16, 2016 Opened on July 1st, 2001, the almost 8 kilometer long Öresund Bridge links Sweden with Denmark for road and train traffic.

Stefania Bertocchi June 19, 2013 when I first saw it from the plane it seemed to be unfinished say under construction. then i saw the cars driving along... and I understood... incredible! I already love this country! Jens Guldborg September 22, 2013 Go get the television series BROEN on DVD. The bridge is somewhat the main character. Or enjoy the english version THE TUNNEL Rouane El-Mahdy May 12, 2016 Amazing bridge that connects Copenhagen to Sweden..it's only 12 minutes from kastrup airport to Malmö C...great experience 😄 Daniel de Souza December 9, 2010 Point of No return... Luca Pettini September 23, 2016 I expected better... Taxi Malmo May 31, 2016 When this F..king bridge will be free of charge?? Fabiano Trindade (SU2) May 18, 2016 A ponte é uma incrível obra de engenharia. Se possível faça a viagem por cima através de carro.

Por trem ainda é possível se ter uma bela vista do Øresund. Anna S August 10, 2013 Самый длинный мост Европы. Проезд 345 DKK или 395 SEK, можно картой. Остановиться на исторической середине, вспоминая одноименный сериал, видимо, не получится:) The Süleyman February 22, 2015 İsveç'i danimarkaya bağlayan meşhur köprü. Mühendislik harikası.. Dimitri Antoniou September 2, 2013 Il ponte che unisce Danimarca e Svezia, da Copenhagen a Malmö iCDS October 17, 2011 Дмитрий Зенцов August 16, 2012 Цена на 27.07.2012 sek 375 или eur 43. Mastercard принимают, но очень ...плохая связь.

Лучше иметь кэш David Luengo April 19, 2014 La unión de dos pueblos Koray Karadeniz November 7, 2013 Geç geç nereye kadar Jonas Sareld July 22, 2013 Smidigt/smart att köpa biljett tur och retur samtidigt - sparar tid på återresan! Ljiljana Tomasevic August 22, 2013 Najduzi drumskoo zeljeznicki most u Evropi. Oresund Bridge Tours, Copenhagen | Ticket Price | Timings: TripHobo Oresund Bridge Tours Address: Copenhagen, Denmark Show on map Book Your Tours and Tickets Save Time and Money! Hand Picked Oresund Bridge Tours & Passes Tour Finder Address: Copenhagen, Denmark Show on map Sightseeing Added 10938 times in trip plans Timing: 24-hrs Everyday 12:00 pm - 07:00 pm It’s sad that more people haven’t heard of this bridge.

Eight kilometres long, this most elegant and slender looking construct is more of a bridge-tunnel. A train runs through it, in what ,ost people feel is a dissapointingly short ride. Good things come in small packages. So whether you want to let your Ferrari rip through on the asphalt, or take the more relaxed train, this will be one quick but sweet ride. Still, it holds the title of the longest rail and road bridge in Europe. Oresund Bridge Information There is an artificial island made beside the bridge that may be an additional attraction for the tourists. Share your experience - Rate Oresund Bridge, Copenhagen Rate this attraction Google+ By Rory Barr This bridge was fantastic. It was really expensive but as I only crossed it once, totally worth the price. I had a really positive experience being up so high above the ships and the windmills with the strong gusts rocking the car back and forth before eventually transitioning into a tunnel mid-crossing. Very cool! By Stuart Barriskell Amazing piece of engineering, we were surprised how long it took to cross to Sweden. Bucket list must do... an outstanding piece of civil engineering.

By Torbjorn Zetterlund Famous from the TV series the Bridge, the bridge connects Malmö with Copenhagen- the bridge has two decks with the trains traveling on the lower deck and vehicle's on the top deck. Quick and easy connection between two great cities. By Peter Vang Christensen Had the privilege of working at the Öresundbridge for a while which gave me a opportunity to several trips up the pylons. Best view imaginable! By Jan Francsi Convenient and safe passage between Denmark and Sweden. Its relatively cheap and the fastest way to cross the Öresund. If you use the bridge more than two times a year think about getting a BroPas. The Oresund region - Copenhagen.com Airport departures The Oresund region Not only the Copenhagen centre is the source of all kinds of entertainment and the place of interest for visitors. Also the surrounding areas offer a great range of sigths: for art lovers there is Louisiana art museum; those interested in royal places should visit Kronborg (Hamlets) Castle and Roskilde Cathedral, and those who wish to spend more time in the open air, there are parks like "the Deer Garden Hill"- Dyrehavsbakken.

On the Øresund, there is an islet Hven; on the Swedish side of the sound - Malmö and Lund are worth a visit. The Øresund Bridge The Øresund Bridge (Øresundsbroen), which opened up for traffic in July 2000 is unique since it connects two countries,Denmark and Sweden. For more than a houndred years the two countries planned a fixed link between Malmø and Copenhagen but one obstacle after another graveled the plans, until now. The bridge is a combined bridge and tunnel and one of the largest constructions in Europe with its 8 kilometre bridge, 4 kilometres artificially made island, called Pepparholmen, and a 4 kilometres long tunnel. The Øresund Region is one of today's most important and dynamic areas in Europe in terms of growth and environment. There are roughly 3.5 million people living within a radius of about 100 km. You can cross the bridge by car or take the Øresund-train to the former Danish town Malmø. You will be there in less than 20 minutes!

Ørestad The new means of transport like Øresund Bridge and the city metro system has expanded the city area, so now Ørestad, the new planned city district, is becoming the centre of the whole Øresund Region. Ørestad is a new conurbation, still growing a few kilometres south of the City borders, not far from the Copenhagen Airport. The Ørestad planning consists of six different districts in a conurbation. A University Campus and the biggest mall in Denmark are already there. The Ørestad Down Town area is also designed - by one of the best: Daniel Libeskind. A vital part of the Øresund Region Ørestad gives Copenhagen the possibility to grow and develop, without jeopardising the integrity of the old city. This approx. 600 metres wide strip of land is already an attractive part of the city. With businesses, pleasure and leisure, smart housing and the university campus, Ørestad will in the years to come become the natural centre of the whole Øresund Region. When Ørestad is finished, it will give home to 20,000 people.

20,000 will study there, and 60,000 people will come to work in the area. Nature And Surroundings Copenhagen and surrounding areas has a fantastic variation of nature with sandy beaches, (total 8 km long), lovely beech forests, and cultivated land with immense fields in yellow, green and red colours, depending on what season you visit the area. With public transportations you have no problems discovering and experiencing Copenhagen green areas, and the countryside with its lovely nature. For those then who wish to spend some time close to the nature, a walk in the romantic 17th century Dyrehavsbakken (a royal deer park) just north of the city, will be a joy. Ledreborg palace & park, and one of the mayor attractions in Denmark - Lejre Experimental Centre, which is an open-air theme park with reconstructed ancient living environment, are situated near Roskilde, 20-30 minutes travel from Copenhagen´s centrum. A ca 35 minutes long trip along the coast to Louisiana Modern Art museum will also give chance to relaxation, since the museum is situated in a beautiful old park. Be creative and enjoy Copenhagen ad-lib!

Denmark - Basic Facts Population density: 126.4/km² (327.8/sq mi) Language: Danish Capital: 509,8; urban area: 1,167,569; Copenhagen Metropolitan Area: 1,834,492 (2010) Other big cities: Århus, Odense, and Aalborg Natural assets: Oil, fossil fuel (gas), limestone, clay, gravel Other languages understood/spoken: English by most people, German and French are also widely spoken Religion: Protestantism Constitution: Monarchy National holiday: 5th of June (Fredrik VII signing "Danmark Riges Grundlov 1849") Membership in international organisations: The Arctic Council, the European Council, UN, NATO, EU, OECD, OSSE, the Nordic Council, WTO, The Baltic Sea Council and many others.

Gross Domesti Product: GDP per capita: DKK 1.658 billion /USD 310.1 billion (2009) 300.241 DKK /USD 56, 790 (2009) Human Development Index (HDI): 0.866 (very high; ranked 19th) The Danish Flag: Probably from the 13th century. Established in 1397. Red with a white cross. It's called Dannebrogen and one of the world's oldest ensign. Time zone: CET (UTC+1), daytime saving time (DST) is observed. Currency: Danish krone (DKK) Impressive from pictures but didn't see much from train - Review of Oresund Bridge, Copenhagen, Denmark - TripAdvisor “The Iconic Oresund of The Bridge” Reviewed February 2, 2016 If you have watched The Broen/The Bridge, that fantastic and intense Scandi crime drama, you will have been already introduced to the Oresund. We travelled across the bridge when we took a bus from Copenhagen in Denmark to Malmo in Sweden.

The bridge links up the two cities and is named after the strait it is located on. You can take the train too but then the bus affords you a beautiful view of the bridge. Visited November 2015 Oresund Bridge Oresund Bridge The Oresund or Oresund Bridge is a combined two-track rail and four-lane road bridge-tunnel across the Oresund strait. It is the longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe and connects the two metropolitan areas of the Oresund Region: the Danish capital of Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmo.

Oresund Bridge Carries 4 lanes of European route E20, Double track Oresund Railway Line Crosses Oresund strait (The Sound) Locale Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden Design Cable-stayed bridge Total length 7,845 metres (25,738 ft) Width 23.5 metres (77.1 ft) Longest span 490 metres (1,608 ft) Clearance below 57 metres (187 ft) Opening date July 2, 2000 The international European route E20 runs across the bridge and through the tunnel via the two lane motorway, as does the Oresund Railway Line. The construction of the Great Belt Fixed Link and the Oresundsbron have, together, enabled one to drive from Mainland Europe to Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia. The bridge was designed by the Danish architectural practice Dissing + Weitling. The Oresundbridge crosses the border between Denmark and Sweden, but thanks to the Schengen Agreement, there are no passport controls. However, there are frequent customs checks at the toll booths on the Swedish side for those entering Sweden, but not for those entering Denmark.

Name In Sweden and Denmark the bridge is most often referred to as Oresundsbron and Oresundsbroen, respectively. The bridge company itself insists on Oresundsbron, a compromise between the two languages. This symbolises a common cultural identity for the region, the people becoming "Oresund citizens" once the bridge is established. Since the crossing actually comprises a bridge, an island, and a tunnel, it is sometimes called, more accurately, the "Oresund Link" or "Oresund Connection". The Sound Bridge is occasionally heard, using the traditional English name for the strait. History Construction of the crossing began in 1995. It was finished on 14 August 1999. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden met midway on the bridge to celebrate the completion. The official inauguration took place on 1 July 2000, with Queen Margrethe II, and King Carl XVI Gustaf as guests of honour. The crossing was opened for public traffic later that day.

On 12 June 2000, before the inauguration, 79,871 runners competed in a half marathon (Broloppet, the Bridge Run) from Amager (Denmark) to Skane (Sweden). In spite of two major disasters - 16 unexploded World War II bombs on the sea bed and a skewed tunnel segment - the crossing was finished 3 months ahead of schedule. Initially, the crossing was not used as much as expected, probably because of the high cost. However, 2005 and 2006 saw a rapid increase in traffic. This may have been due to Danes buying homes in Sweden - to take advantage of lower house prices in Malmo - and commuting to work in Denmark. In 2008, to cross by car cost DKK 260, SEK 325 and ? 36.30, although discounts up to 75% are available for regular users. In 2007, almost 25 million people travelled over the bridge: 15.2 million by car and bus, and 9.6 million by train.

Drogden Tunnel Satellite image of the Oresund Bridge.The connection between the artificial island of Peberholm and the artificial peninsula at Kastrup on Amager island - the nearest populated part of Denmark - is through the Drogden Tunnel. The 4,050 m (13,287 ft) long tunnel comprises a 3,510 m (11,516 ft) undersea tube tunnel plus 270 m (886 ft) entry tunnels at each end. The tube tunnel is made from 20 prefabricated, reinforced concrete segments - the most massive in the world at 55,000 tonnes each - interconnected in a trench dug in the seabed. 2 tubes in the tunnel carry railway tracks; 2 more carry roads while a small fifth tube is provided for emergencies. The tubes are arranged side by side. The reason for incurring the additional cost and complexity of building a tunnel instead of another section of bridge, is to avoid obstructing aircraft from nearby Copenhagen Airport and to provide a clear pass for shipping.

Rail transport The public transport by rail product is operated jointly by the Swedish SJ and Danish via DSBFirst on a commission by Skanetrafiken and other county traffic companies (that also sells tickets) and the Danish transport agency. A series of new dual-voltage trains were developed which link the Copenhagen area with Malmo and Southern Sweden as far as Gothenburg and Kalmar on selected departures. SJ operate the X2000 and InterCity trains over the bridge with connections to Gothenburg and Stockholm. DSB operates trains to Ystad that connects directly to a ferry in Bornholm. Copenhagen Airport at Kastrup is served by its own train station close to the western bridgehead. Trains operate every 20 minutes over the crossing and once an hour during the night in both directions. An additional couple of Oresundstrains are operated at rush hour and 1-2 per hour and direction SJ trains and DSB trains every other hour. Freight trains also use the crossing. The rail section is double track standard gauge (1435 mm) and capable of high-speeds up to 200 km/h. Lower in Denmark, especially in the tunnel section.

There were challenges related to the difference in electrification and signalling between the Danish and Swedish railway networks. The solution chosen is to switch the electrical system, from Swedish 15 kV, 16.7 Hz to Danish 25 kV, 50 Hz AC right before the eastern bridgehead at Lernacken in Sweden. The line is signalled according to the standard Swedish system across the length of the bridge. On Peberholm, the line switches to Danish signalling which continues into the tunnel. Sweden runs railways with left-hand traffic and Denmark with right-hand traffic. The switch is made at the Malmo Central Station, which is also a terminus. For the new Malmo City Tunnel connection a flyover will pass one track over to the other side.

пїЅпїЅпїЅпїЅпїЅпїЅпїЅпїЅ пїЅпїЅпїЅпїЅпїЅпїЅ «Oresund Bridge» Designing out crime in Scandinavia: ‘Cities cannot be completely safe and completely exciting at the same time’ | Cities | The Guardian Cities Designing out crime in Scandinavia: ‘Cities cannot be completely safe and completely exciting at the same time’ As well as a bridge, Copenhagen and Malmo share an ambition to drive out crime by injecting the ideas of an open, democratic and empathetic society into their very bricks and mortar Oresund Bridge links Malmo and Copenhagen, two cities committed to tackling crime through better design. Photograph: Sven Rosenhall/Getty Images/Nordic Photos Cities is supported by Tuesday 24 June 2014 05.02 EDT Last modified on Thursday 26 June 2014 10.12 EDT Share on Messenger Close Halfway along the Oresund Bridge where Denmark meets Sweden, one of the darkest of Scandinavian crime dramas placed a body, cut in two and left lying across the border.

Such is the penetration of Nordic noir into our consciousness that even driving the route on a bright summer day, with the five-mile structure glinting in the sunlight, you are thrust back into those bleak scenes featuring the socially awkward Saga Norén and her Danish sidekick Martin Rohde. As the pair pursued a perpetrator whose killing spree put Hannibal Lector in the shade, The Bridge explored extreme violence, political activism and social dysfunction in both nations. Travelling from Denmark to the point where the body was discovered, the city of Malmo is visible through the windscreen as Copenhagen recedes in the rear-view mirror. While dramatists linked the two cities around an outbreak of violence that seemed to suggest something deeply wrong at the root of both societies, it is not a tendency to breed serial killers that the cities share, but an ambition to drive out crime by injecting the ideas of an open, democratic and empathetic society into the very bricks and mortar that surround its citizens. In the UK the authorities have tended to adopt a hostile and defensive architectural response to crime and anti-social behaviour: the erection of thousands of CCTV cameras, provision of gated communities and, most recently, the use of metal spikes in the streets.

But in Scandinavia, despite higher rates of homicide and assaults than the UK, according to OECD figures, this approach has been rejected in favour of a softer option. The results can be seen in developments like the one in the southern harbour area of Copenhagen, Sluseholmen – once a working-class dock – which has been regenerated around a canal system in a deliberate copy of Amsterdam. Low-rise modern flats with large windows and private balconies or gardens have been built around inner courtyards. Fences are replaced with glass and perspex, encouraging light to bounce off the surfaces, and increasing visibility of the families looking out on to the square and neighbours looking in. The aim is to use the natural surveillance of the residents as a powerful form of crime prevention. Pinterest The former docks area of Sluseholmen in Copenhagen uses a canal system as a natural defence against crime. Photograph: Bo Grönlund In the middle of the courtyard, a children’s play area is well used. Toys lie scattered around, and babies sleep in prams around the edge of the space. The canals flow up the sides and back of the buildings, and the blocks look out on to the harbour itself.

Bikes and kayaks – used by the residents to get to work in central Copenhagen – are left unlocked. There are no dark alleys or dead ends, and the atmosphere is open, calming and welcoming. Most strikingly for a visitor from the UK, there is not one CCTV camera. Walking around Sluseholmen is the architect Bo Grönlund. In his mid-70s, a small, energetic white-haired man, his enthusiasm about the impact architects can have on reducing crime is no less today than when he was a young man. Eyes bright with zeal, Grönlund talks rapidly, gesticulating at architectural features in the area which, he says, make residents safer. “The water is used here,” he gesticulates, “as a natural defence. You see how it is all along one side of the building – no one can break in from there. It is built around the courtyard principle where you have a public space in the interior. The car park is underground and not visible. There are no cameras here, of course. We are quite sceptical about them because they can almost only be used after a crime has taken place; they do not prevent it. “This is a calming environment, it is not provocative.

If you do things that tell you that you are a bad person – like have cameras or gates everywhere – you might become that bad person, at least a little bit.” Grönlund was part of a group of architects in the 1980s who tried to put designing out crime at the heart of city planning. They drew up recommendations to give planners and designers a better chance of shaping the physical environment to minimise violence and vandalism. “At the time the only publication around crime prevention from the EU was a British one, and it was very British in its thinking: with fences, cameras and alarms,” he said. “We wanted to do it in another way very consciously. The basis was that Denmark should continue to be an open society with a minimum of physical barring and formal surveillance.” Pinterest The 1980s Sibelius estate is considered a model of how to design out crime. Photograph: Bo Grönlund A leading figure in the movement, architect John Allpass, was responsible for designing the first housing area in Denmark where creating safety and security was implicit in the design.

Five miles out of Copenhagen, the Sibelius estate is still considered a model of the designing out crime philosophy, shaped around: Creating a social space where the natural surveillance of the people within it prevents crime. Increasing people’s attachment to an area. Encouraging people to use common areas with seating, foyers and lobbies that invite social contact. Providing facilities for adults and young people in particular. Limiting the number of access points from surrounding streets. Frequent inspection and repair of vandalism. Avoiding alleyways, hiding places and blind spots, and only using locks cameras and physical barriers as a last resort. Bronzed and relaxed, Karsten Ellekaer is a familiar figure on the estate. He arrived here in 1985, shortly after the first phase was completed, with a young child. He brought up his family here and, though recently retired, has no intention of living anywhere else. “Why would I want to leave? This is a wonderful place to live,” he says. “We have very little crime here. From the start everything was built in a certain way.

The idea is the buildings are placed in the middle of an industrial area, which means that tenants can keep an eye on the industrial units at night, and when the tenants are out at work, there are people working in the industries who can act as a natural surveillance for the properties here.” There is a bar run by tenants, a cafe, a laundry – where cards are swiped rather than cash used – a fitness centre and a common house which tenants can hire for parties. Neatly tended private gardens, with low hedges to increase visibility, line an inner road through the estate which is used by pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The passage of people is another intended form of ‘eyes on the street’ surveillance to reduce crime. Ellekaer spends his days walking around the estate checking for graffiti, litter, signs of criminal damage. As the tenants’ association leader, he runs a team of caretakers who are busy weeding the verges alongside the interior road. On the basis of the ‘broken windows’ theory – that vandalism and graffiti, if left, can escalate into more serious crime – so maintenance is deemed to be part of increasing safety and security. Pinterest Sibelius in Copenhagen takes maintenance seriously.

Photograph: Bo Grönlund But there are no CCTV cameras or warning signs banning skateboarding, littering or anti-social behaviour. “They are not necessary,” Ellekaer says. Behind the high-wire fence of the national police headquarters a few miles away, Karsten Nielsen, a former police officer, sits in his small prefab office which is dwarfed by the police station opposite. A quiet and thoughtful man, he leads the Danish Crime Prevention Council and believes there is a vital philosophy behind his country’s desire to make its people feel safe without locking them in. The Sibelius estate, he says, brought together all the best ideas of building secure and safe environments. “We want a society we live in to be a free, open society, and we don’t want to lock any gates or make barriers unless it is absolutely necessary,” he says. “It’s about creating safety and reducing crime through urban planning in the built environment, on the streets, in the living areas we create.

It relates to all major crime categories like theft and burglary, vandalism and violence.” But attempts to remodel Sibelius have not all been successful; some designs have created public spaces which are too large for the population – lending the feel of a suburb so deserted it feels like the aftermath of a nuclear attack. There is also, in some areas, a sense that the life has been designed away, leaving only a husk of anything that makes a city interesting to live in. “You cannot have a completely safe city and a completely exciting city at the same time, they are completely contradictory,” Grönlund suggests. “You need to have the exciting part of the city which is perhaps somewhat dangerous. So it has to be balanced and in proportion.” Look at any guidebook and one of the most “exciting, vibrant and cosmopolitan” areas of inner-Copenhagen is Norrebro, where nearly 30% of inhabitants are from immigrant communities and the organic cafes, bars and chic baby shops rub up against cheap kebab takeaways, pound shops and slightly seedy clubs. Pinterest Graffiti at Norrebro station in Copenhagen.

Photograph: Francis Dean/Rex Norrebro – according to police statistics – also has a higher rate of crime than many other areas of Copenhagen, with 2,200 crimes reported per square kilometre. These include gang-related activities including drug dealing, possession of weapons and robberies, as well as shop burglaries, vandalism and graffiti. Daubed with the graffiti of rival gangs along its main streets, the area has been the scene of many riots over the years, most recently in 2007 when the police moved in and evicted squatters from the Youth House, a social centre and base for environmental activists. Now it is the subject of a detailed report by Grönlund into how to alter the environment in order to reduce the crime. “Obviously it is [only] small changes you can make; you cannot pull everything down and start again. It is about working with the buildings and making adjustments.” Some in Norrebro, however, fear that an attempt to design out the crime on their streets could eradicate the very reasons they live here – its radical edge, multiculturalism and all-round funkiness. Young people gather around cafe tables in the main square, where plant shops vie for space with juice bars and vegetarian restaurants.

“There are some gangs here and there is drug dealing, but I don’t feel this is a dangerous place at all,” says Hanne Kold, who runs a baby shop in the square. “A lot of people who hang around come here because they need somewhere to go; they are part of this place,” Kold adds. “They don’t make too much trouble because this is their place too. I wouldn’t want this area being changed in some major way – I don’t see why they should want to do that.” Oresund Bridge - ASTER Image Gallery Oresund Bridge Click on Image to Enlarge (JPG) Oresund Bridge (1,287,253 bytes) ( 3,390 x 1,728 ) In 1991 the governments of Denmark and Sweden agreed to build a bridge to connect the two countries across the Oresund Strait. The 16 km long Oresund link between Malmo, Sweden (right) and Copenhagen, Denmark (left) was completed and opened to traffic in 2000. Denmark and Sweden were linked once more - 7,000 years after the Ice Age when they were landlocked.

The Oresund Bridge is the world's longest single bridge carrying both road and railway traffic. The high bridge with its record-breaking cable-stayed span of 490m is designed to harmonize both structurally and aesthetically with the approach bridges. The connection starts on the Denmark side near the airport as an underwater tunnel that emerges on a man-made island. From there, the bridge continues to the Sweden side. The ASTER image was acquired April 10, 2004, is centered near 55.6 degrees north latitude, 12.7 degrees east longitude, and covers an area of 50.8 x 25.9 km. Click on thumbnails below for full resolution images. Oresund Bridge

Question: The Oresund Bridge links Copenhagen to which city?
Answer: Malmo